Venetian blind slat and method of making



Dec.V 28, 1937. Rig, PRA-rr `VENETIAN BLIND SLAT AND METHOD 0F MAKINGOriginal Filed July 21, 1932 JzverzZ'O-r HAY/WON@ C PRH??- Patented Dec.2s, 1937 UNITED STATES PAT-ENT OFFICE i Raymond C. Pratt, Chicago, Ill.,assigner to EB.

Dodge and Company, tion o! Iliinois 0112080. IIL, a corporaonginaiapplication my 21, 1932, sei-m No. o23.-

802. 1934, Serial No. 724,935

Divided and this application May 1 0 14 Claims. (Cl. 156-17) Thisinvention relates to Venetian blind slats and the method of making same.

This application is a division oi applicants co-pending applicationSerial No. 623,802, led

July 21,V 1932, for Spring controlled Venetian blinds.

The primary object of the invention isto provide a highly ornamental,inexpensive, metal Venetian blind slat of relatively light weight, andwhich has a substantially dead sound, so as to overcome the rattleinherent in conventional blind slats.

Another object is to provide a metal Venetian blind slat, which can bemade relatively thin and v-yet have considerable tensile strength, whichis capable of having a highly ornamental finish applied thereto, whichcan be readily and economicillly manufactured, and which is strong anddura e.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a method of makingVenetian blind slats which consists in rolling hollow or cylindricaltubes, so that a relatively inexpensive metal blind slat having greatstrength and capable oi receiving a highly polished or ornamentalsurface is produced.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout theprogress of the following specication.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a selected embodiment of theinvention, and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a detail elevation of one form oi the improved'Venetan blindslat.

Fig. 2 is a detail transverse sectional view of the 3,-, slat shown inFig. l.

, Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of another form oi the improved Venetianblind slat, and embodying the invention.

Fig. 4 is a detail transverse sectional view of 4o the slat shown inFig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of another formo! slat, and embodying theinvention.` l Fig 6 is a detail transverse sectional view of the slatshown in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawing, l0 designates a Venetian blind lslat which maytake any one of a variety of forms. The slat shown in Figs. 1 and 2 isshown in Figs. 22 and 27 respectively of applicants aforesaid co-pendingapplication, of

y 50 which this application is a division. The slat shown is a't and isformed of a tubular or cylindrical member which is rolled or flattenedto produce a relatively ilat slat. During the attening or rolling of theslat, the tube from which the 55 slat is rolled is pressed inwardly asdesignated at entire length. The slat is Il in Fig. 2, thereby providingdat portions I2 which contact as indicated at I3. The central edges ofthe slat, thereby rendering them somewhat hollow, and in eect providingstrengthening members. 'I'he outer exterior edges I1 of the slat at theoutside of the beads I6 are rounded. and present a smooth, clean-cut,ornamental edge for the slat. The slat shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and whichwas shown in Figs. 26 andl 31 respectively of the aforesaid co-pendingapplication, is also pressed or attened from a hollow metal tube orcylinder. The slat shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is provided by pressinginwardly at the points indicated at 2li and 2l to provide upper andlower surfaces 22 which are relatively straight and ilat. `The innervportions of the tube contact as indicated at 23.

' at 24 to provide rounded external beads 25 having hollow centers 26which extend throughout s ubstantially thefull length of the slat. 'Ihisiorm 3 of s'lat is relatively rigid and may be preferred over the slatshc'wn in Figs. 1 and 2. The slat shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is strengthenedby the edge beads 25, and in most purposes is preferred, inasmuch as theslats will pile up into a smaller bundle. l

The slat shown in Figs. 5 and 6 which is the slat shown in Figs. 24 and29 respectively inthe co-pending application is somewhat along the 40lines of the slat shown in Fig. 4, but has the outer beads ofconsiderably larger proportions. In Figs. 5 and 6, the slat has centralstraight opposed surfaces 30 and 3| which contact at 32. The sides 30and 3| spread vapart near the outer 45 edges of the slat as 'indicatedat 33 to provide relatively round tubular portions or beads 34v havinghollow centers 35. 'I'he beads 34 extend substantially from one end oithe slat to the other, and materially strengthen Ithe slat in its 50formed by pressing the tube along the surfaces Bil and 3| until theycontact and provide haty straight surfaces inwardly of the outer beads.This form of slat is Probably the strongest of any so far/shown, and

' ly strong to prevent bendingor twisting of the slat. If desired, theslat shown in Figs. 5 and 6 may be provided with a centraltubularsection Il as shown in Figs. land 2. If the lcentrai portion I4 is addedto the slat shown in Pigs. 5 and 6, an exceptionally strong and rigidslat is provided.

In carrying out the invention, the slats are provided by flattening!tubes. The flattening operation may be done by applying pressure, but inpractice it has been found advantageous to pass the tubes or cylindersthrough pressing rolls. The rolls may be conilgurated to produce anyshape of slat desired, and any type of tube may bek employed. Inexplaining the invention,

`the slats are shown as formed from tubes having a circular crosssection. but it is of course understood that tubes of any crosssectionsuch as square, rectangular, oval, or `any other desirable shape andcross section may be used.

The invention provides the formation of metal slats which can be -madein a continuous rela- 25 tive operation. slats constructed in accordancewith the invention are relatively easy to clean and capable of having ahighly ornamental polish or nish. 'Ille slats are rigidand strong, arerelatively non-clattering, will not warp, and

80 are long lasting. The slats are relatively easy t'o apply in place,and they have no sharpedges. 'Ihe slats may be' formedfrom tubes andflattened to the desired configuration, and if and when desired,thejends ofthe slats may be provided with beads in the form of tubes ofsmall l diameter extending throughout the length of the slat with acentral panel which is dat. The

flattened central panel is twice the'thickness of 45 ceived within metaltilting and operating members, or the ends of the slats may be leftsquare in the manner shown in conventional wooden slats, there beingsuitable attaching mechanism provided for fastening the slats t'osuitable tubes 50 or bands. One form of tape or band is shown in theaforesaid coipending application, there being a pivotal connectionbetween the ends of the slats and the tapes or bands. Another form oftape which may be used commercially, -is the 5 conventional linen orfabric tape, whereby the slats may be mounted on the cross supportingmembers or strips connecting the front and rear portions of the tape.The present invention, however, does not refer to the assembly oroperation of a Venetian blind, but only to blind slats llllehe method ofmaking the slats from hollow Changes may be made in the form,construction and arrangement of the parts, and the method may be variedwithin certain degrees Awithout departing from the Spirit of theinvention or sacrlcing any of the advantages thereof, and the right ishereby reserved toy make all such changes as fairly fall within thescope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A Venetian bland slat comprising a metal tube having flat opposingsides, and a longitudinal tubular central Portion extending throughoutsubstantially the full length of the slat.

2. 'Ihe method of making Venetian blind slats which comprises flatteninga hollow metal tube tion extending longitudinally of the slat.

5. The method of making Venetian blind slats which consists incongurating a hollow metal -tube to bring opposing surfaces thereof intocontacting relationship to provide a slat having flat surfaces andhollow side beads at the side edges of the slat. f

k6. A Venetian blind slat formed of a trans- `versely closed, continuoussheet of metal, said slat being hollow and having flat opposed sidessubstantially parallel with each other.

'7. A nat metallic Venetian blind slat formed of a transversely closed,continuous sheet ofmetal, said slat being hollow and having generallyparallel, nat opposed sides and a longitudinally extending, integral,enlarged tubularportion centrally thereof to form a Alongitudinallyextending bead. 1

8. A relatively nat metallic Venetian blind slat having a substantiallyuniform cross-section generally throughout its length, said slat ateachsection comprising a hollow closed sheet of metal v with twogenerally parallel, ilat opposed sides substantially in contactingrelationship, and a longitudinally extending integral bead formed alonga side edge thereof.

9. A relatively ilat metallic Venetian blind slat having a substantiallyuniform cross-section generally throughout its length, said slat at eachsection comprising a hollow closed sheet of metal with two generallyparallel, flat opposed sides substantially in contacting relationship,and a plurality of longitudinally extending beads integrally formed onthe edges of the slats and connecting the opposite sides.

10. A relatively flat metallic Venetian blind slat having asubstantially uniform cross-section generally throughout its length.said slat at each section comprising a continuous sheet of metal withtwo generally parallel,l flat opposed Vsides substantially in contactingrelationship, and a longitudinally extending integral bead formed alonga side edge thereof and substantially the full length of the slat.

11. A relatively flat metallic venetian blind slat having asubstantially uniform cross-section generally throughout its length,said slat at each section comprising a hollow closed sheet of metal withtwo generally parallel, ilat opposed sides substantially in contactingrelationship, and a longitudinally extending bead formed integrally oneach side and extending outwardly therefrom to form a reinforcing rib.

12. A flat metallic Venetian blind slat formed tubular portions formingbeads adjacent the edges said flat upper. and lower walls arranged in-parthereof. allelism in a closely spaced relationship. f 13. A metalslat for Venetian blinds having a 14. A metal slat for Venetian blindshaving a generally at, tubular cross-section with fiat flattened tubularcross-section with rounded latupper and lower walls connected by curvedside eral edges. l

Walls presenting a smooth outer surface, said RAYMOND C. PRATT.

curved side walls being arcuate in cross-section',-

